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Curiosities: Smashing atoms can create new elements

Q. On the periodic table of the elements, will there be any other man-made elements added?
— Submitted by Alan Canacasco, 7th grade, Sennett Middle School

A. Since starting his career, physicist Ralf Wehlitz of the UW-Madison Synchrotron Radiation Center has seen the periodic table grow by 13 elements, from dubnium at position 105 to the newest, heaviest element: number 118. And scientists are certain to create more, he says.